Strip feed control means in rotary stencil printing means



Aug. 13, 1,957 F. M. CARRQLL ETAL 2,802,413

' STRIP FEED coNTRoI. MEANS IN ROTARY sTENcIL PRINTING MEANS GREY'- M.vGURLEY MW TINT FRED M. CARROLL l Aug. 13, 1957 F. M. CARROLL mm1/. ,Y2,802,413

STRIP FEED CONTROL MEANS' y1R ROTARY sTE'zN'CiU..;'PR;1-1'1ING.miams'vFiled sept. :50..1952 e snets-sneet 2 Fie. 2 6' IOS ' nventor IFF-3 FREDM. CARROLL Aug. 13,'1957 2,802,413

STRIP FEED CONTROL MEANS IN ROTARY STENCIL RRlNTING MEANS F. M. CARRIOLLETAL 6 Shee-ts-Sheelt 3 Filed sept. 30, 1952 nventor FRED M. CARROLLGREY M. GURLEY (.lttong Aug.`13, 195'( F. M'. .CARROLL Erm. y 2,802,413

STRIP FEED coNTRoL'NEANs 1N ROTARY sTENcIL PRINTING MEANS -Eilgd sepT.30, 1952 e sheets-sheet 4 [A Plas if DTCK STR|P DRAG INVENTOR FRED M.CARROLL GREY M. GLY BY MM ATTORNEY Aug. 13, 1957 F. M. CARROLL ETALSTRIP FEED CONTROL MEANS IN ROTARY STENCIL PRINTING MEANS 6 Sheets-Sheet5 Filed Sept. 30. 1952 FIG. 60

INVENTOR FRED M, CARROLL GREY M. GULEY ATToRNEYg MR. JAMES J. LOVE 32|MARKET sT. NEW YORK, NY |2'-5o MR. JOHN J. JONES |23 VENDER sT.

NEw YORK, NY |2-5o RALPH R SMITH 246 E|GHT sT. NEW YORK, N.Y. |2-5o Aug.13, 1957 F. M.A CARROLL Erm.v

STRIP FEED CONTROL MEANS `IN ROTARY STENCII.. PRINTING MEANS 6Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept 30, 1952 Dumm STRIP FEED CONTROL MEANS INROTARY STENCIL PRINTING MEANS Fred M. Carroll, Binghamton, and Grey M.Gnrley, Endwell, N. Y., assignors to International Business MachinesCorporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York t Applicationseptember so, 19sz,`serialNo.s1z,s4z

` z Claims. (C1. 101-48) oftentimes maintain a mailing list of customersto whoml literature or other material is forwarded by mail at regularintervals of time depending on the particular case.

United States Pfdllnt Ordinarily this requires the typing out of theaddresses on each label for each customer receiving material atl aparticular time. This arrangement has proven unsatisfactory since thetime and labor consumed in'preparing the address labels make themaintenance of a mailing list an expensive operation. The pastdifficulties in preparing labels for a mailing list are eliminated byuse of the machine of the present invention which permits a mailing listto be kept up to date by merely inserting or removing a stencil addresscard in the mailing list file. When itis desired to prepare the addresslabels, the stencil cards are fed into the machine of this invention andthe addresses are printed on different portions of a continuous stripwhich is fed into successive printing positions. The continuous stripupon which the addresses are printed is frequently called a Dick strip.

One object of the present invention is to provide an addressing machinewhich will provide an address label with an address.

A further object of the invention is an improved form of mechanism forprinting names and yaddresses on continuous strip at high speeds.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the followingdescription and claim-s and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which disclose, by way of examples, the principle of the invention andthe best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.A

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a sideelevation of a printing machine illustrating thepreferred embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken along linesZ-Z of Fig. l. f

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along lines 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the construction of printingstation and the mechanisms which advance the continuous strip throughthe station.

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view illustrating the position of themechanisms for advancing the continuous strip at various periods of thestrip feeding operation.

Figs. 6a and 6b show specimen stencil and continuous strip upon whichprinting has been eiected, respectively.

Pig. 7 is a timing diagram which can be Afollowed to 'the 2,802,413Patented Aug. A13,

ice

understand the various operations of mechanisms shown herein.

Briefly, the addressing machine of this invention has a continuous stripfeeding mechanism, a holder fora stack of printing devices, preferablystencils, a printing mechanism comprising a platen roll and a printroll, a feeding mechanism for moving the printing devices from theholder into successive' printing positions between the platen roll andprint roll, and mechanism cooperating with the strip feeding mechanismto regulate the advance of thel continuous strip through the printingposition.

The machine shown herein as embodying the present invention includes atable 10 supported at the top of a conventional frame structure (notshown). A stencil holder 11 is located at the lefthand end of the table10 and extends upwardly therefrom (see Figs. l and 3). The successivelowermost stencils 12 of the stack 13 are moved from the stack by meansof a pair of reciprocatory pushers 14 of usual construction. Each pusher14 has connected thereto a rack member 15 which transmits motion topusher 14 as explained hereinafter. A continuous strip of material orDick `strip 16, preferably paper, is fed from the left and passesthrough the printing station to be expelled from the machine on theright hand side.

Framework Referring to Figs. l, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the mainframework comprises the heavy oblong table 10 supported by four legs(not shown) secured to the table. Two frame castings 17 and 18 aresecured to the top surface of table'10 along the side edges andhereinafter will be referred to as side frames. A frame casting 19 isalso secured to the top surface of table 10 between side frames 17 and-18 and will hereinafter be termed a lower middle frame. A cross bar 20extends between side frames 17 and 18 above lower middle frame'19 andsupports an upper middle frame member 21. A plate 22 is secured on oneend to upper middle frame 21 and extends outwardly from it toward sideframe 17. A small frame casting Z3 extends upwardly from the free endofplate 22 to form a housing for the ink transfer rolls as explainedhereinafter. An end plate 23 (Fig. 3) is secured to side frames 17 Vand18 at the right hand end of the machine and extends at right angles tothe planes of the side frames. A pair of frame castings 24 and 25 (Fig.3) extend between the side frames 17 and 18. `The lower portion of framecasting 24 is provided with an opening through which strip 16 passes onits path to the printing station. Frame casting 25 serves as the frontpartition of stencil holder 11, the stencils being fed from holder 11beneath the lower end of frame casting 25 to the printing station.

The framework mounted on table 10 described above supports the printing,stencil feeding and continuous strip feeding devices.

The legs attached to the table 10 support a small subframe 26 shown inFig. 1 on which is mounted the driving motor M.y The other usual,appurtenances of an electrically driven machine are also Wholly orpartly sup-` ported by this sub-frame.

Main driving mechanism passed. .MotorM drives shaft29 through endlessbelt 28 .and .the .shaft .inturn .drives .the mechanisms which .performthe various machine operations mentioned above.

Referring again to Figs. l Vand 2, it is seen that a platen k3 1 isrigidly ,mounted ona shaft 32 and aprint drum y33 Vis similarly mountedon a shaftl34. "Shafts 32 and l34 are ,mounted for;rotation insideframes 17 and 18. A gear isffixed to a portion of shaft 32whichextends through yside frameV 18 and meshes witha spur gear 36 fixedto a portion ofshaft 34 projecting through side frame 18. A `train ofgearing extends from drive shaft 29 across side .frame 18 to reach thedrive connections for the platen v31 and print drum 33. A gear 37 isfixed on drive shaft 29 outside-side frame18. vGear 37 engages an idlergear 38 freely mounted on a stud `39 `projecting from .side frame 18.Idler 38 is in mesh with a sr'nall-idlerl gear 40 vvhichin .turn engagesgear 35 to drive platen shaft 32. Idler Vgear 40 and a kgear 44 arefastened together and freely mounted on a stud extending from side frame18. Gear 35 `drives print drum shaft 34 through spur gear 36.

An inking roller .41 (Fig. 2) is driven from the same train of gearsthat operates the platen 31 and print cylinder 33.

speed reduction gearing connected to the motor M. Inking roller 41 ismounted on a shaft 42 which in turn is i rotatably mounted in uppermiddle frame 21 and side frame 18. Shaft 42 extends beyond side frame 18and has a gear 43 fixed to the end thereof. Gear 36 meshes with gear 43to drive inking roller shaft 42. The mechanism for making the inkingroller effective is described hereinafter.

Stencil feeding mechanism The stencil pushers 14 (Figs. l and 3) areof'wellknown construction having the usual picker knife 14a and areguided for reciprocatory movement by suitable guides. Each pusher rack15 is provided with rack teeth meshing with gear segments 45 secured toa shaft 46 journaled in i side frames 17 and 18, -there being twopushers 14, two

racks 15, two segments 45 andone shaft for moving the The stencilpushers 14 are reciprocated through a drive connection with the maindriving mechanism. Drive shaft 29 is provided with a positive drive cam48 (Fig. l) secured thereto outside of side frame 18. An L-shaped camfollower 49 is fastened to a portion of shaft 46 projecting through sideframe 18. Rotatably mounted at the extremity of each leg of follower 49is a cam engaging roller 50. Cam 48 is so shaped as to be securelygrasped between the legs of follower 49 which transmitsa positiverocking motion to shaft 46. The oscillation of shaft 46 causes gearsegments 45 to transmit a reciprocatory motion to racks 15 which in turnmove pushers 14` The machine timing is such that the pushers 14 arereciprocated once each machinecycle of operation.

First group of stencil card feed rollers 40is rotated through themaingear train described above It is already explained that gear 36 isdriven by the Y as explained hereinafter in connection with the strippass the printing position when an ink .carrying `attached gear =44`with, it. Gear A44 meshes `with vright'in Fig. 3 to a position betweenplaten 31 and print drum 33 at the printing station.

The printing station The print drum 33 '.(Fig. 3) has four ink pads 6,0secured to the periphery thereof and spaced at an appreciable distanceone from the other. Referring now to Fig. 6a, itis seen that stencilcard 12 is composed of bonded sheets of stiff material which constitutea frame 12a having a window 12b through which the working area of thestencil 12e Vis exposed. This working area is subjected to pressure byatype .or stylus in a manner so that the porous base pf -the stencil isnot punctured. Ihispreparation -foreprinting Iis called cutting the:stencil and characters and numerals representing -a name and addressare thus cut in each stencil to be used in `this machine. The widespacing ofvink pads onprint drum 33 is' provided because of the width ofthe stencil `cards i12 which follow veach .other closely but must notlap, one on .theothen It is therefore apparent that an interval of time,must .be allowed to Lpermit the window portion 12b of ,each ystencilcard uto .arrive 'at the printing position. This condition also `makesitlnecessary to retard the movementof the continuous strip 16 after eachprinting .in order to maintain a close spacing of the printed matte'feeding mechanism.

Print drum 33 andyplaten 31 previouslyexplained (Fig. l) .and

suchV that t-he .window A are geared together as the machinetimingis 12bof a stencil card 112 starts to pad :60'approaches the Hpri-ntmgposition. The stencil Vcard is tightly squeezed between `the drum 33 andplaten l31 causing link to transfer .through the `cut portions ofstencil 12e to the strip 16 upon which printing is effected.

Print drum inking mechanism 'Mechanism is alsoprovided at the printingstation vfor 1nk1ng th e ink pads `60. Referring again to Figs. 2 and 3,1t 1s seenfthat the inking mechanism consists of a series of ink4transfer rollers, a vibrating ink Vtransfer 23 to permit verticaladjustability of shafts 64 :and 65.

An ink pickup roller 68 is secured on a shaft 90 lwhich also isrotatably mounted in frames 21 and 23. Positioned between pickup roller68 and ink transfer roller 63 is the vibratinginktransfer roller 69.

Vibrating roller 69 (Fig. 3) is secured on a rod 70 which isrotatablymounted on `a pair of support Aarms 71. The support arms inturn are secured -to a shaft 73 `having frfixed .bearings in uppermiddle framek 21 .and small Vframe casting 23. A link member 74 isfastened to a portion 4of shaft 73 projecting through frame 21.Pivotally mounted-to link 74 at 75 is another link member 76v with abifurcated vlower extremity having legs 76a and 76b. `A earn' followerV'77 is vpivotally mounted on a stud 78 'extending 'from vframe 21 andcarries a lug 79 Which'isadapted to slidein a slot l76C formed `by legs76a and g76jb 'of the bifurcated extremity oflink 76.- A coil Aspring 80extends be'tween'upper middle frame 21 Upon rotation of shaft 34 therise of cam 82 causesl follower 77 to rock in a counterclockwisedirection about stud 78 against the pressure of springs 80 and 81, asviewed in Fig. 3, once each machine cycle. The rotation of follower 77causes link 76 Atojbe moved upwardly,`

thereby turning shaft 73in a counterclockwise direction. The shaft 73 inturn moves support arms 71 downwardly until roller 69 is in contactVwith the ink pickup roller 68. Asfollower 77 leaves 'thehigh'point ofcam 82, spring 81 effects a clockwise rotation of follower 77 and link76 is again pulled downwardly by'sprin'g 80,y

therebyturning shaft 73 in a` clockwise direction., ASupport arms 71 areagain moved upwardly'to bring roller 69 into contact with .ink transferroller 63. t

A pawl 83 (Figs.` 2, 3) is pivotally connected to earnn follower 77 at84 and biased by a wire spring 85 toward engagement with the Ateeth of aratchet wheel 86 secured to a portion of pickup roller shaft 90projecting through frame 21. When cam follower 77 is rotated in acounterclockwise direction by cam 82, pawl 83 moves ink pickup roller 68clockwise through engagement with ratchet wheel 86. Plate22 (Fig. l) isformed with upwardly extending side walls 22a.which form a receptaclefor holding ink. Roller 68 is positioned-so that a portion of itsperiphery is always below the level of the ink contained within sidewalls 22a of plate 22. TheV rotation of roller 68 causes ink to beconstantly replaced on the surface of the roller. The vibrating roller69 removes ink from roller 68 and deposits it onink transfer roller 63.

The ink transfer rollers are driven through a train of gears connectedto gear 43 which drives the inkingroller shaft 42. A gear 87 isfastenedto shaft` 42 nearv frame 21 (Fig. 2). Gears 88, 89 and'91 arefastened on shafts 64,65 Aand 66 near frame 21. Gear 87 is in mesh withgear 88 to move it in a counterclockwise direction. Gear 88 in turnmeshes with gear 89 which is in engagement with gear 91 to move shaft 66in a counterclockwise di-' rection. It is thus seen that the inktransfer rollers 61, 62 and 63 are continuously driven during machineopera tion .to receive ink from vibrating roller 69, and carry it to theinking roller 41. The ink is transferred to each ink pad 60 as it passesroller 41, thereby insuring a steady flow of ink from the ink receptacleto the printing station.

A manually operable control lever 92 (Fig. 3) is loosely mounted onshaft 90 outside frame 21. Lever 92 is L-shaped in coniiguration, theshort leg of which has a ange portion 92a which is adapted to engagepawl 83 and the long leg of which forms a handle for manipulation andhasV an arcuate slot 92b cut therein. The flange 92a is settable to camout the point ofpawl 83 altogether or at various points during thereturn stroke and thus limit the amountk of feed of the ink roller 68'.IvA set screw 93 is passed through slot 92b of lever 92--and is seated ina boss 94 (Fig. 2) projecting from frame 21. Lever 92 may be moved toany one of a series of positions limited only by the ends of arcuateslot 92a and is'frictionally held in place at any point between the endsof slot 92a by a tightening of set screw 93. The amount ofrotation ofink pickup roll 68 is determined by the number of teeth on ratchet wheel86 advanced by pawl 83. When lever 92 is rocked to the furthest limit ina counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, pawl 83 is permittedto moverratchet wheelv 86 through the maximum rotation. However, if

lever 92 is rocked to the furthest limit in a clockwise di-- rection,the flange portion 92a of lever 92 intercepts An-I pawl 83 at a pointWhere pawl 83 is entirely disengaged from ratchet wheel-86. The machine'operator 'Scan of course position lever 92 through set screw 93 atvarious positions between the ends Yof slot 92a to permit rotation' ofthe ratchet wheel 86. lIn this way the amount of ink delivered to thevibrating roller 69 is regulated.

Third set of stencil card feed rollers and card guides After a stencilcard 12 is discharged from the printing station, it is drawn between athird set of feed rollers located to the right of the printing stationin Fig. 1 which carry the stencil cards to a stencil stacking pocket94,.` The third set of feed rollers are designated 95 and are secured onfeed roller shafts 96 and 97 (Figs. 1' and 3) which are mounted forrotation in fixed bearings in side frames 17 and 18.` Gears 98 and 99are fastened to kas shown in Figs. l and 3.

shaftsl 96 andv 97 respectively and are intermeshed to constantlyrotate-'rollers 95. .An idler gear 100and a gear 101 arefastened'together and are freely mounted ona stud 102 `extending fromside frame l18. Idler 100 is driven by gear 35 which is rotated throughthe maingear train previously described and carries attached gear 101with it when it is rotated. Gear 101 meshes with gear 98 to drive feedyroller shaft 96 in afclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1,v and inturnv feed roller shaft 97V is driven counterclockwise throughAintermeshed gears 98 and 99. i

A shaft 103 (Fig. 3) is rotatably mounted in side frames 17 and 18 andcarries an arm 104 fastened there to which is approximately the samelength as the stencilcards 12. A gear 105 (Fig. l) is secured to shaft103 outside frame 18. An idler gear 106 is looselymounted on a stud 107projecting from frame 18.

in their movement from the stencil holder 11 through the printingstation to the stacking pocket 94. Strips 72 are supported by cross bar20, being secured thereto by screws 109. Similarly, strips 108 aresupported by end plate 23, being secured thereto by screws 110.Referring now to Fig. 2, it is shown that both ends and the body of astencil card 12 vare supported and guided by tlllne four pairs of stripswhile passing through the mac ne.

The strip feeding mechanismV The wide spacing of the ink pads 60 onprint drum 33.

requires that the movement of the strip 16 be retarded after eachprinting in order to maintain a close spacing of the printed matter asshown in Fig. 6b. This condition makes necessary a movement of the Dickstrip which is accomplished by a duo of sets of oscillating rollersillustrated in Fig. 4.

A reel 111 covered with a roll of continuous Dick strip 16 is placed inthe lower left hand end of the machine Reel 111 is carried by a shaftwhich is mounted in slots 112 cutin side frames 17 and 18. The strip 16passes through an opening 24a in frame casting 24 to a position betweena set are intermeshed to constantly rotate rollers 113.

Idler 106 is:` driven by idler 101 and is in mesh with gear 105 todrivev Agear 1,20'(Fig. 1) is fastened to--a portion of shaft 1.16 whichprojects through frame 1.9. Secured t platen shaft 32 is va spur gea-r12,1 (Fig. 2) which meshes with an idler gear 122 rotatably mounted on aStud 123 extending from frame 19. YIdler 122 is in mesh with anotheridler gear 161 (Fig. 1) loosely mounted on a stud 162 on frame 19. Idler161k in turn engages a small idler gear ,124 which -is freely mounted onaV stud 125 projecting from frame 19. Idler 124 meshes with gear 12,0 todrive shaft 116 Vat constant speed in a clockwise direction, as viewedin Fig. 1. Shaft 117 in turn is driven counterclock-wise throughintermeshed gears 118 and V119.

A second set of Vfeed rollers 130 (Figs. 2 and 3) are driven -in likemanner fromy spur'gear 121. Gears 126 and 1 27 (Fig. 2) are fastenedutoshafts 128 and 129 respectively inside frame 19 and are intermeshed toconstantly rotate rollers 130. A gear 131 is fastened to `a portion ofshaft 129 which projects throughframe 19. Idler gear 161 is also inmeshfwith gear 131 to drive shaft 129 in ya counterclockwise direction,as viewed in Fig. l, and in turn feed roller shaft 128 isV drivenclockwise through-intermeshed gearsg126 and l127 (Fig. 3);

The strip regulating mechanism After strip 16 leaves feed rollers 113,it passes through a set of oscillating rollers designated 132 and 133(Fig. 3) which are freely mounted on'rods 134 and 135 respectively (Fig.The oscillating rollers-Bland 133 are shown in perspective in Fig. 4.,and it is seen that these rollers are housed in brackets 137 and 138,each of which is fastened to a tlat portion on a shaft 140 mounted forrotation in side frame 18 and lower middle frame 19. Each bracket 137and 138 has an overturned ear 137a and 13811 respectively between whichrods 134 and 135 are supported.

Referring now to Fig.` 5, strip 16 is passed over rollers 1,32 and underrollers 133 on its path to the printing station where it travels betweenplaten 31 andY print drum 33. After leaving the printing station,` strip16 is passed through a second set of oscillating rollers designated 141and`142 (Fig. 3) which are freely mounted on rods 143 and 144respectively. Rollers141 and 142 are housed in brackets 146 and 147,each of whichis fastened to a flat portion on a shaft 148 mounted forrotationin frames Y 18 and 19. Each bracket 146 and 147 has anoverturned ear 146a and 14711, respectively between which rods 143 and144 are supported. When strip. 16 leaves the printing station, it ispassed under rollers 141 and over rollers 142 and continues in its pathto a position between feed rollers which expel the printed strip 16 fromthe machine.

The mechanism for making oscillatingrollers 132, 133 and 141, 142effective is located on the outside of side frame 18 (Fig. 1) and isoperated by a cam 149 fastened to the portion of shaft 29 projectingthrough frame 1.8. This mechanism is shown in perspective in Fig. V4Ywhere the relationship between the operating mechanism and theoscillating rollers can-be clearly seen. A cam follower 150 having a camengaging roller 151 is freely mounted on a stud 152 extending from frame18. An arm 157 is fastened to follower 150 and a connecting rod 153is loosely connected to arm 157 at 1,54. Rod 153 pivotally engages apair of operating arms 15.5 and 156 which are fastened to shafts 140 and148 respectively outside frame 13. A wire spring 158 biases follower 150toward cam 149 to maintain roller 151 in constant engagement with cam149. The cam 149 is so proportioned that arms 1 55 and 156 constantlyrock shafts 140 and 143 during machine operation, as describedhereinafter in connection with the timing diagram.

Operation and machine timing The timing diagram of Fig. 7 covers onecard cycle or one cycle of, Dick strip movement. The horizontalcomponent vof the chart is taken directly from Ileft to right as themagazine feed rollers and print drum appear in the machine. The verticalcomponent of distance of travel is taken with respect to the movement ofa stencil card 12 out of the magazine 11. I

The top field, designated Vstencil card motion, shows the travel of a.stencil card 12 through the Vprinting station at a constant velocity ofthree and vthree hundred and eighty-four thousandths inches per' cardcycle; The ink pad 60 on print drum 33 contacts the. card Vfrorn 225 to315 to effect printing'on the Dick strip 16.

In the second field, designated Dick strip motion, the average speed ofthe Dick-strip 16 is one and thirteen thousandths inches per card cycleand is shown by the straight dotted line. This speed is determined bythefeed rollers which rotate at aconstant velocity to feed strip 16 in andout of the machine. The solid line indicates the velocity of thatsectionof Dick strip which Vpasses over the platen 31 at the printing stationto receive printing thereon. It is .noted that the Dick strip 16 travelsat the same velocity'as thefcard 12 from 200 to 340 to allow the strip16 and card 12. to pass through 'the printing station at the same Arateof speed. This variation from the averagevelocity of the Dick strip iscaused by the motion of oscillating rollers 132, 133 and 141, 142.

The oscillating rollers 132, 133 and 141, 142 are shown in their neutral'position in Fig. 5 under the designation N. In the third field of thetiming chart (Fig. 7) the angular displacement of the oscillatingrollers from their neutral position is shown by the solid line. From 0to 180 of the card cycle, the oscillating rollers are rotatingcounterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. V5, to the full counterclockwiseposition designated A. This action by the oscillating rollers stores upa quantity of ystrip 16 in rollers 132 and 133 in preparation for thefast printing run. At 180 the oscillating rollers rotate clockwise until360 of the cycle where the full clockwise position is attained, .asshown in Fig. 5 and designated B. The oscillating rollersV are Vneverstationary but'always rotating either clockwise or counterclockwise toapply tension to the vstrip 16. The neutral position is onlyattainedwhile the oscillating rollersare moving from the fullcounterclockwise position to the full clockwise position.

It is thus seen that the oscillating rollers 132, 133 and 142, 143 causethe Dick strip 16 to move opposite to the regular feed advance between0' and 180 (Fig. 7). In Fig. 5 at A, the amount of Dick strip which isretarded is shown between the dotted lines and designated Dick stripdrag. At 180 the oscillating rollers begin their clockwise rotation topermit the Dick strip 16 to advance at the same speed `as the card 12from 200 to 340. In Fig. 5 at B, the amount yof Dick strip which isreleased to allow rapid advance is shown between the dotted lines anddesignated Dick strip lag.

While there have been shown and'described and pointed out thefundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferredembodiment, it will be understood that various omissions andsubstitutions and changes in the form and details of the deviceillustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in theart, without departing from the spirit of the invention. `It is theintention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope ot'the following claims.

What is claimed is: p

l. In a printing machine, a printing station comprising a print drum anda cooperating platen, means for feeding a series of stencils thereto,means for feeding a continuous strip to and from said printing stationat speeds less than the rate of advance of said stencils, a first set ofrollers for applying tension to said strip before and after the printingoperation, a second set of rollers for applying tension to said stripduring the printing operation, means for mounting Veach set of rollersin a manner which enables it to move in an arc about a separate fixedpoint,

means for continuously oscillating each set of rollers t0 describe aseries of arcs about their respective fixed points, whereby said rst setof rollers applies tension to said strip in respone to arcuate movementof both sets of rollers in one direction before and after the printingoperation to retard the advance of said strip and said second set ofrollers applies tension to said strip in response to arcuate movement ofboth sets of rollers in the opposite direction during the printingoperation to hasten the advance of said strip to equal the speed of astencil.

2. In a cyclically operable printing machine, a printing stationcomprising a print drum and a cooperating platen, means for feeding aseries of stencils thereto, means for feeding a continuous strip to andfrom said printing station at speeds less than the rate of advance of-sad stencils, a first set of rollers for applying tension to said stripduring one half of a cycle and before and after the printing operation,a second set of rollers for applying tension to said strip on the otherhalf of said cycle and during the printing operation, means for mountingeach set of rollers in a manner which enables it to move in an arc abouta iixed point, means for continuously moving each set of rollers todescribe a series of arcs about their respective xed points, wherebysaid first set of rollers applies tension to said strip in re sponse toarcuate movement of both sets of rollers in 10 one direction before andafter the printing operation to retard the advance of said strip andsaid second set of rollers applies tension to said strip in response toarcuate movement of both sets of rollers in the opposite directionduring the printing operation to hasten the advance of said strip toequal the speed of a stencil.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS762,609 Belknap June 14, 1904 1,833,938V Elliott Dec. 1, 1931 1,954,349Dewey Apr. 10, 1934 1,978,073 Belcher Oct. 23, 1934 1,978,715 MeiselOct. 30, 1934 -1,992,613 Hartley ..2 Feb. 26, 1935 2,144,650 Euion Jan.2A, 1939 2,158,474 Misuraca May 16, 1939 2,262,250 Ralston Nov. 11, 19412,546,372 Pinckert Mar. 27, 1951 2,548,136 Auer Apr. 10, 1951 2,658,406Mcllvain Nov. 10, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 148,790 Switzerland Aug. 15, 1931477,943 Great Britain Jan. 10, 1938

